King Aemon I Targaryen
King's Landing was his home, the home he and Dany would make it for their child, a boy, Aemon was convinced it would be a boy, that their child would be the continuation of their line to ensure that no one would dare think to overthrow them once the pretender in the south was dead and buried. Whether the pretender was actually their nephew was something that Aemon was not sure about, but he knew that the boy was not the rightful heir to the throne, Viserys had been by right of what their father had done, and then when Viserys had died, Aemon had become the heir, and now he was the crowned and anointed sovereign. There were a few things that needed solving within the city before he could fly off for war, and so that was why the council meeting had been called.
"Tell me Lord Baelish how did your meeting with the Iron Bank go? Are they happy with the payments and reassurances you have made?" Aemon asks, he already knows how the meeting went, he got a fully detailed report from the eunuch when it happened, but he wants to know what the mockingbird will say.
Baelish smiles at him and Aemon gets the vague hint of mint. "It went very well Your Grace. The Iron Bank was more than pleased to receive the money that they were owed, and they hope that from now on any such business will be repaid promptly and with great assurance. Something I was more than happy to assure them of."
At least the fool is telling the truth now. Aemon thinks to himself, somewhere in the distance Belgabad sits, waiting for a moment to strike, for now though Aemon will have to content himself with the feasting of lesser beasts. "And tell me my lord, have you been able to find out where the money lacking from the books has disappeared off to?" Dany had found the missing money when she had snuck a look at the books, something Missandei had also pointed out, Aemon had his suspicions but he was not going to act straight away.
Baelish seems to be hesitating for a moment, but then his face smoothes over and he smiles. "I have found several pots of gold that Tywin Lannister invested into a brothel whilst he was Hand of the King, or rather what his son Tyrion invested in, taking from the crown's coffers itself. Other than that, the rest of the money is still on the loose."
Another lie my lord? Come now, surely you know better than to lie to a dragon? Smiling Aemon nods. "Very well my lord, perhaps you can answer this question then. How is it that when the crown was in so much debt, you thought it a good idea to allow the Lannisters to take so much from the treasury, did you not think that perhaps the debt would come calling sooner rather than later?"
Somewhere, Belgabad is growling, reflecting Aemon's anger. Baelish squirms a little at the sound, but his voice is still light when he replies. "I had thought it prudent to allow them a chance to examine the books themselves Sire. I had thought, wrongly, that once they saw just how badly we needed that money they would resist their attempts at spending. It seems I was wrong."
Aemon does not believe the man, but for now he decides to let it lie, once Jorah has found more proof he will bring Baelish down to the ground. For now, he turns to Lord Tyrell who sits on his council as master of laws and asks. "Tell me my lord, what word do you have from Lord Tarly? Has he made good progress on dealing with the threat we face?" the threat being the Dothraki horde who had gone pillaging on his orders.
Tyrell is a great fat oaf of a man, who seems to live in that harridan he calls a mother's shadow, but there is a smartness underneath it all, and it is that to which Aemon is appealing to. "Lord Tarly writes that the victory has been won. The Dothraki were driven to the walls of the castles where they attempted to plunder and they were broken. Your man Rakharo did his duty well Sire."
Of course, Rakharo did, he is mine and always has been, from that moment we met, he was mine to do with as I pleased. He will march into the seven hells if I ask it of him. Aemon did not say that aloud though, instead he nods and says. "Good, tell Lord Tarly that he is to ride on to meet with Lord Stark and the northmen and the rivermen and to advance toward Storm's End. With any luck the damage that Stark did to the Stormlords will cause the pretender to come rolling out."
Lord Tyrell nods, and Varys asks. "Sire, with Edric Storm dead, who will you name as the Lord of Storm's End? There are several nobles within the Stormlands who have minor claims to the seat, but they are not powerful enough to hold it without your constant support."
Aemon nods, and Lord Royce who served as an advisor speaks. "Perhaps it would be best to appoint the Tommen boy as Lord of Storm's End? He will be remaining in King's Landing for the time being will he not Your Grace? He has already renounced his rights to the throne, sending him away from your control will do nothing, but give those who want you gone an opportunity. Tommen Baratheon is Robert's son, the Stormlords will respect that."
"Will they respect it enough to stay neutral, or will they rise in rebellion at the first chance?" Jorah asks, his voice challenging.
Before Royce can reply, Aemon speaks. "Tommen Baratheon might well be named Lord of Storm's End, though that Mya girl you brought with you might also serve. The Starks have suffered greatly during this war, perhaps a bone can be thrown to them."